Barbados Black Belly – Wikipedia

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Barbadian breed of sheep

Barbados Black Belly
Barbados Black Belly at the small ruminant project at Virginia State University, 2001 (cropped).jpg
Other names
  • Barbados Black Belly
  • Black Belly
  • Barbados Barriga Nigra[1]
Country of origin Barbados
Distribution 25 countries world-wide, mainly Caribbean and South America[1]
Use meat
Face colour black, brown
Horn status polled
good resistance to heat and parasites

The Barbados Black Belly is a breed of domestic sheep from the Caribbean island of Barbados. It is raised primarily for meat. Unlike most tropical sheep, it is highly prolific, with an average litter size of approximately 2.

It is widely distributed, with populations in twenty-five countries in the Americas, Asia and Europe. It is most abundant in the Caribbean region, in Mexico and in Peru. In 2015 the total world population was estimated at about 158000.

History[edit]

In 1624, when William Courten arrived in Barbados, the only domestic animal on the island was the pig. By about 1650 sheep of two different types had been introduced, as described by Richard Ligon in his True and Exact History of the Island of Barbadoes: there were European wool sheep, which did not do well on the coarse pasture of the island, and hair sheep brought from West Africa.[2]

It is widely distributed, with populations in twenty-five countries in the Americas, Asia and Europe. It is most abundant in the Caribbean region, in Mexico and in Peru.[1] In 2015 the total world population was estimated at about 158000.[1]

In the United States the Barbados Black Belly has been cross-bred with Corsican Mouflon to produce the American Blackbelly, a distinctively-marked reddish sheep of small to medium size, which in males develops very large horns; the ewes are polled. There are 0.25–0.5 million of these in Texas, where many are reared as trophy animals to be shot by hunters.[3]: 753 [4]: 150 [5]: 419  In 2014 the US reported 212 head of the original Barbados Black Belly breed.[6]

The Barbados Black Belly has also been used in a cross-breeding project in Indonesia.[7]

Characteristics[edit]

The Black Belly is well adapted to tropical conditions: it has a high tolerance of parasites and is able to survive by grazing tropical grasses of poor quality, even in severe tropical heat and humidity.[8]: 240  They are fleet of foot and in many ways resemble deer. It is a hair sheep, growing hair rather than wool.[2] Unlike most tropical sheep, it is highly prolific, with an average litter size of approximately 2.[2] If raised in cooler climates, they often develop a wool undercoat that they shed in the spring.

Barbados Blackbelly sheep will breed all year round unlike most domestic sheep. Because they are smaller and slower growing than most wooled sheep, they are not a good choice for commercial production. However, there is a strong market for their lean and mild-flavoured meat, and they are popular with herding dog trainers. They are very disease resistant and parasite tolerant, and these genetic traits have created a demand for Blackbelly sheep in crossbreeding operations. These sheep can be raised with very little grain, and do not require intensive management. Blackbelly sheep range in colour from light tan to a dark mahogany red, with black stripes on the face and black legs, belly, inguinal region, chin, and chest, which gives this herbivore its name. Despite being goat-like in appearance, they are true sheep, even though they do look very similar to their wild ancestor, the mouflon, which also has short black and brown fur.

Crossbred and purebred sheep in Europe[edit]

In the 20th century, many Barbados sheep were brought from Barbados to the UK and mainland Europe, where it gained popularity. Due to the lack of mutual knowledge among hobbyists and sheep farmers, sometimes Barbados sheep are confused with Djallonké (Cameroon sheep). As a result, there are many crosses of these two breeds in Europe.

Some breeders mistakenly offer crossed and pure Barbados sheep as being Djallonké (Cameroon sheep or West African dwarf sheep).[9]

Crossbred and purebred sheep in Asia[edit]

Recently, there is successful attempt to crossbreed Barbados Black belly with Indonesian short tail local sheep, Suffolk sheep, and St. Croix sheep by Tista Waringin Sitompul, a teacher from University of North Sumatra, to create a new breed which called ‘Waringin sheep’. Waringin sheep reportedly has shown desirable positive characteristics including it could reach weight about 150-200 kg consistently, prolificacy, and its worm based disease resistance[10][11][12]

In 2016, Waringin sheep was considered by Rokan Hulu Regency regional government as local Government breeding project[13]

The Black Belly is reared primarily for meat.[14]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Transboundary breed: Barbados Black Belly. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed September 2015.
  2. ^ a b c R.K. Rastogi, H.E. Williams, F.C. Youssef (1980). Barbados Blackbelly Sheep. In: Ian Lauder Mason (editor) (1980). Prolific Tropical Sheep. FAO Animal Production and Health Paper 17. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9251008450.
  3. ^ Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). Mason’s World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 9781780647944.
  4. ^ Janet Vorwald Dohner (2001). The Encyclopedia of Historic and Endangered Livestock and Poultry Breeds. New Haven, Connecticut; London: Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300088809.
  5. ^ H.A. Fitzhugh (1984). Hair Sheep: Meat Production Without Wool. In: Frank H. Baker, Mason E. Miller (editors) (2019) [1984]. Sheep And Goat Handbook, volume 4. Abingdon; New York: Routledge. ISBN 9780367287238, pages 415–424.
  6. ^ Breed data sheet: Barbados Blackbelly / United States of America (Sheep). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed July 2022.
  7. ^ Misno. “Tista Waringin Berhasil Temukan Pakan Penentu Kelamin Domba”. Medan Bisnis Daily. Archived from the original on 6 January 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  8. ^ André M. de Almeida (2018). Barbados Blackbelly: the Caribbean ovine genetic resource. Tropical Animal Health and Production. 50: 239–250. doi:10.1007/s11250-017-1475-5.
  9. ^ “West African Dwarf Sheep Breed Standard”. www.ornamental-breeders.org. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  10. ^ Misno. “Tista Waringin Berhasil Temukan Pakan Penentu Kelamin Domba”. Medan Bisnis Daily. Archived from the original on 6 January 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  11. ^ Alam, Ir Sjamsirul. “Potensi Pengembangan Ternak Domba Waringin”. Agribizniz Network. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  12. ^ Gita Rahayu, Yesi; Siregar, Tongku Nizwan; Gholib; Thasmi, Cut Nila; Herrialfian; Daud, Razali; Zuhrawati; Hamdan; Rasmaidar (July 2018). “The Comparison of Waringin Sheep Progesterone Level during Estrous Cycle Induced by PGF2α and Combination of PGF2α and GnRH”. Jurnal Ilmiah Peternakan Terpadu. 6: 101–105. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  13. ^ Waradewa, Sandy (31 January 2016). “Pemkab Rohul Belajar Ternak Domba di Langkat”. Archived from the original on 9 January 2021.
  14. ^ Breed data sheet: Barbados Black belly / Grenada (Sheep). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed July 2022.